SVSP Peer Assistant

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Post End Date:

April 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM

This job advertisement is to fill an existing vacancy in the Part-Time Contract Positions (Employee Group)

Gender and Sexual Violence (GSV) Peer to Peer Assistants GSV Support and Education Employment Opportunity within Human Rights and Equity (HRE) Anticipated start date: August 18th

Number of positions available: 4 Hourly rate: $17.20/hour

Joining the Human Rights and Equity Office 

The GSV P2P team is part of the Human Rights and Equity (HRE) Office at Brock University. HRE is a resource for all Brock community members, which includes students, staff, and faculty. HRE addresses human rights, harassment and discrimination that are connected to the Ontario Human Rights Code, and all job applicants are encouraged to review the HRE website. HRE upholds human rights laws and policies, and provides equity services to staff, faculty, and students by advocating on behalf of individuals and groups of people, by providing education through workshops and other venues, and by offering guidance to those seeking to implement equity in their own working and learning spaces at Brock. HRE sees great value in the peer-to-peer leadership model and student advocacy regarding human rights, as student leadership creates a more inclusive, safer campus for everyone.  

Gender and Sexual Violence Support and Education (GSVSE) is a key branch of Human Rights and Equity at Brock University. We seek one GSV Research Assistant to join and support the coordination of our team working to end sexual violence in a post-secondary environment. Our peer to peer (P2P) support team will act as a pivot service connecting individuals to supports both on and off campus and assist in educating the Brock community on Gender and Sexual Violence. The successful candidate will be offered a 34-week contract of 10 hrs/week from September 2025 through April 2026 at the St. Catharines campus of Brock University. They will be expected to be available for both online and in-person program delivery (workshops and events) at the St. Catharines campus of Brock University. Some evenings and weekends will be required. The successful candidate will receive fulsome orientation and training including job expectations, understanding GSVSE in the context of Human Rights and Equity, trauma-informed and survivor-centred peer support, as well as necessary information about Brock University. The GSV Research Assistant will support the portfolio of and report to the Gender and Sexual Violence Education Coordinator. If the candidate expresses an interest in developing specific skills and/ or experience working in other parts of the Human Rights Office, the Gender and Sexual Violence Education Coordinator will work to facilitate this. 

Duties & Responsibilities 

• All team members will be involved in the following areas of work:
• GSV Education and Event Planning
• Develop, update, and facilitate workshops for students to encourage enhanced capacity and awareness of GSV.
• Lead ongoing workshops through the Certificate series: GSV, graduate student equity & inclusion series
• Support the coordination and facilitation of Consent Training to a variety of student groups including students in residence, student clubs, student life programming, and other community groups
• Engage in ongoing reading and learning on relevant GSV research
• Envision, plan, and facilitate student focused events to enhance GSV awareness, support, and healing
• Provide in person or online coordination and support for prominent HRE events (e.g., International Women’s Day, Black Student Symposium, Pride events, December 6)
• Peer to Peer Coordination & Support:
• Lead daily drop-in sessions by providing peer support from a non-judgmental, survivor-centered, anti-oppressive, intersectional, and trauma informed perspective.
• Receive disclosures from students experiencing GSV and collaborating with other HRE Advisors to provide holistic support. Students will be trained in providing emotional support and directing students to on and off-campus resources.
• Provide resources and referrals relevant to specific student needs internal to the Brock community and external community agencies and partners
• Engage in trauma informed and survivor-centered approaches when connecting with students and community members
• Support the coordination of our Peer Safer Walk program

Outreach and Engagement 

• Support the coordination of and engage in information sharing for GSV and HRE throughout the year including greeting students, distributing education and awareness materials, and answering questions (i.e. tabling, postering)
• Leading collaborations with campus and community partners and underrepresented student groups to create connections, partner on programs and initiatives, and affirm communities.

Accountability and Reporting 

Note that there will be mandatory, in-person training for two weeks at the end of August: 

• Aug 27 10 am – 2 pm (Intro to HRE and Community Building – ALL HRE Staff)
• Aug 28 10 am – 2 pm (Event Planning, Outreach and Tabling – ALL HRE Staff)
• Aug 29 10 am – 2 pm (Effective Facilitation and workshop design – ALL HRE Staff)
• Sept 1 – All Day – Residence Training- All HRE Staff, All Student Staff

Note there will be mandatory weekend shifts throughout the year: 

• Sat Oct 4: 10 am – 2 pm
• Sat Nov 8: 10 am – 2 pm
• Sat Jan 24: 10 am – 2 pm
• Sat Mar 7: 10 am – 2 pm
• Sat Apr 11: 10 am – 2 pm Annual Wrap Up and Celebration

Accountability for time worked will be implemented through the use of time sheets. All P2P staff need to fill out a Biweekly P2P report-sheet and discuss it with their supervisor to track the progress of the respective programming and to monitor their professional growth. 

Programming Areas: 

• Women Empowerment and Survivor centric Programming
• 2S & LGBTQIA+ inclusion GSV Programming
• Indigenous centered GSV Programming
• Racialized student GSV Programming
• International student GSV Programming
• Anti-ableism GSV Programming
• Men against Violence Programming
• GSV Admin, Social media and Event Promotion

Qualifications 

• Commitment to ending sexual violence as demonstrated through previous or current activist or voluntary work is strongly desired.
• Previous working/ volunteering experience in the GSV field is appreciated but not required. Area of academic concentration is not a factor in this hiring.
• Preference will be given to individuals with lived experience as members of Indigenous, racialized, 2S & LGBTQIA+, disabled, those who have experienced GSV, or other marginalized communities.
• Leadership and project coordination is an asset

Eligibility 

The eligible candidates must: 

• Be a current Brock University student as of September 2024;
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have a valid Student Work permit, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment;
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number or valid Study permit at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations;
• Provide a clear Vulnerable Person Police Check upon hiring

Other Required Skills: 

• Project Management
• Personal Intercommunication skills
• Advanced Public presentation skills
• Social Media content development and delivery
• Proficiency in documentation
• Ability to follow protocol for reporting incidents
• Graphic design for publicity campaigns
• Developing educational messaging
• Outreach and student engagement
• Critical thinking skills
• Time management
• Ability to work in collaboration with a dynamic team and take initiative to lead projects

In your cover letter please indicate which programming areas you are most interested in. Eligible candidates will receive an email to arrange a virtual interview. Anticipated start date will be August 18th for in-person mandatory onboarding and training for 2 weeks (paid). The position will be contracted for 10 hours per week for 34-weeks between September 2024 through April 2025. 

The qualifications for this position have changed since it was last posted.

We are committed to offering flexible work arrangements where possible as outlined in our Flexible Work Arrangement Policy. As a student-centered organization, all employees are required to work on campus as needed.

Brock University is committed to creating a respectful and equitable workplace. We strive to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion in our work and learning environments. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and actively encourage applications from women, people with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Indigenous Peoples, people who identify as Black, African and/or Caribbean, as racialized and/or as from ethnic and cultural minority groups, and other underrepresented demographic groups at Brock and in the Niagara region. Brock also recognizes intersectionality and the interconnected identities, histories, and experiences of these aforementioned groups.

We are committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment, and we accommodate the needs of applicants throughout all stages of the recruitment process, as outlined in our Employment Accommodation Policy and consistent with the requirements of the Ontario Human Rights Code. Please contact talent@brocku.ca if you require a disability related accommodation so we can ensure your participation needs are met.

Brock University does not use AI Technology at any stage of the recruitment process.

We appreciate all applications received. Candidates that are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Learn more about Brock University by visiting www.brocku.ca.

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